Find a Voyage:

You are here

The Capital of North Iceland

Akureyri is considered a city, in fact Iceland’s second largest, even though its total population is only about 18,000.

Set on the shores of one of Iceland’s most spectacular fjords, with a backdrop of countryside earth tones and greens and perennially snow-capped mountains, it is quite a sight to behold.

Weather patterns here are a bit of a puzzle - only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, summer temperatures can soar to the high 60s. No surprise then that a main attraction is the Botanical Gardens, where over 2,000 species of native and non-native plants flourish without benefit of a greenhouse.

Featured Voyages

Akureyri Church

Located on a hilltop, the church has been a dominating figure over the town since it was built in 1940. Inside, stained glass windows depict scenes from Icelandic history. A model ship hangs from the ceiling, meant to signify protection for the parish’s fishermen while at sea.

Akureyri Folk Museum

A vast collection of memorabilia, tools, and black and white photography from 19th century Icelandic farms can be seen at this museum. The art on display helps provide a fuller and deeper understanding of Icelandic culture and life.

Botanical Gardens

These gardens contain examples of every species of indigenous plant life found on the island of Iceland. Additionally, there is a large collection of high-altitude plants from around the world, with plants from as far away as New Zealand, Spain, and Tanzania also on display.